The top teams wasted no time heating up as the second half of the season got under way. Stars for Indiana and Phoenix notched season highs in Tuesday night's games as the East and West leaders extended their leads in the conference races. The Fever and Mercury remain the easy 1-2 picks in the power rankings, as compiled by ESPN.com women's basketball editor Melanie Jackson (through Wednesday's games):

2009 Power Rankings: Week 8
	RANK(LW)	TEAM	RECORD	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Fever	13-4	Katie Douglas' career-high 34 points on Tuesday (think what she could have done if she hadn't gone 1-for-7 on 3-point attempts) brilliantly backed up Lin Dunn's recent statement that Tamika Catchings has more help than ever in Indiana. The Fever have won nine consecutive home games. Can they make it 10 when they host the Sun on Thursday? Their season series sits at 1-1.
	2 (2)	Mercury	14-5	The Mercury have three more away games before returning home. But they've ruled the road so far, going 2-0 since the All-Star break. Cappie Pondexter poured in a season-high 29 points in Tuesday's victory. The Mercury rank first in ppg (93.1), field goal percentage (45.6), free-throw percentage (85.6), apg (18.1) and bpg (5.74), as well as second in 3-point percentage (40.3).
	3 (3)	Sun	9-7	Not even the league's stingiest defense (well, it was the best heading into the game; now, Connecticut's defense ranks third) stood a chance against the high-octane Mercury offense, as the Sun lost Tuesday for the first time in five games. As Asjha Jones put it, missing 11 layups in the first quarter didn't help the cause, either.
	4 (4)	Storm	11-7	On the surface, Tuesday's loss at San Antonio looks like bad luck. All five Seattle starters hit double figures, and the Storm led by 10 entering the fourth quarter before losing on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. But in a game of runs, San Antonio had the last laugh -- and exposed the real problem: Seattle gave up 14 offensive boards and ranks last in the league on the glass, averaging 30.4 rebounds per game.
	5 (5)	Lynx	10-8	The Lynx have a slightly new look -- Renee Montgomery has joined the starting lineup and Minnesota added Tasha Humphrey and Spanish national team member Anna Montanana. The results are mixed so far, but time and four straight games at home after a date at Detroit on Friday can only help.
	6 (7)	Mystics	9-8	Crystal Langhorne is coming on strong. A starter the past five games, Langhorne has tallied 46 points and 26 rebounds in the Mystics' last three contests (victories over Chicago and Sacramento and a loss to Indiana). A win at New York on Thursday is crucial since a home date with Indiana is on tap for Sunday.
	7 (8)	Silver Stars	8-8	The reigning Western Conference champions haven't been above .500 the entire season. And after two straight wins to even their mark, the Silver Stars could finally get over the hump Thursday at Sacramento.
	8 (9)	Dream	8-10	The Dream haven't played in more than a week and finally open the second half of the season at home against Phoenix on Thursday. More important, however, is Saturday's home date with New York. Atlanta is 0-3 against the Liberty, one of only two teams behind the Dream in the East standings.
	9 (6)	Sky	9-10	The Sky limped into the break losers of two straight and just 2-7 in July. But they gritted out a 75-63 victory over the Sparks on Tuesday to get back on track. Sylvia Fowles remains the key. The 6-foot-6 center has been hobbled by knee soreness this season, and Chicago is 0-5 when Fowles doesn't play. A key stretch is coming up. After Saturday's home date with the Sun, the Sky play four straight on the road. Improving that 2-8 road record is a must for Chicago to remain in the playoff race.
	10 (10)	Liberty	6-10	Despite their record, the Liberty are only 1½ games out of fourth place and the East's final playoff spot. Like Chicago, New York's postseason hopes could really be helped or hindered by a five-game road swing that starts Saturday and wraps up on the West Coast. But also like the Sky, the Liberty have won just two games on the road this season.
	11 (12)	Sparks	5-10	It's like Groundhog Day with L.A. On the plus side, the Sparks split a back-to-back to end a three-game skid. But then they stumbled Wednesday for their fourth loss in five games. L.A. has failed to win consecutive games the entire season, but the real redundancy is Michael Cooper's continued reminders that his team is far from complete. How about an update on when Lisa Leslie, out with a sprained right knee since June 19, might return?
	12 (11)	Shock	5-9	As if this season wasn't frustrating enough for the three-time WNBA champs, seven-time All-Star Katie Smith finally lost at the All-Star Game, too.
	13 (13)	Monarchs	4-15	The Monarchs suffered through six-game losing streaks in June and July. Will August be any different?